Why Hamilton Lives Up To The Hype

Shortly after its 2015 Broadway debut, it became apparent that Lin Manuel Miranda’s musical Hamilton was quickly becoming a cultural phenomenon. As word spread like wildfire about the masterful crafting of its story, its talented and diverse cast, and its inventive subject matter, tickets began to be in short supply and started to become extremely expensive. As someone who is at times skeptical of pop culture outbursts of popularity but also a casual fan of live theater, I resigned myself to the fact that I would likely never see the star-studded original cast perform this show, and decided to be happy for those who did. Luckily enough, the creative geniuses behind this production had the foresight to record the show as it was upon its initial run of success, and now Hamilton is available for viewing on Disney+ after originally being slated for a 2021 release in movie theaters nationwide.

Theoretically, as some cast members have admitted, the concept shouldn’t work. While American Revolutionary history is fascinating, a nearly 3-hour-long musical about it sounds tedious. That description couldn’t be further from the truth. By telling the story of American-then by America-now, as the playwright so brilliantly puts it, Hamilton is able to simultaneously educate us about our country’s foundational history and ideals while also commenting on how far we have to go to reach them. A largely minority cast features the likes of Leslie Odom Jr. and Christopher Jackson playing Aaron Burr and George Washington, respectively, demonstrating how far we’ve come in many regards. But that’s just the half of it.

The music throughout this production is the most inventive, catchy, and captivating of any musical I’ve ever heard, without exaggeration. Miranda pairs traditional theatrical musical tropes with elements of hip-hop, jazz, and soul, which breathe life into an already surprisingly relatable storyline full of heart. Every cast member offers something unique and necessary to the stage, and performances from Renée Elise Goldsberry, Leslie Odom Jr., and Daveed Diggs were entirely worthy of the Tony awards they received. It’s funny, too, especially as Jonathan Groff spits his way through the hilarious refrains written for King George III. Songs such as “Satisfied”, “The Room Where It Happens”, and “My Shot” are accomplishments in their own right, not to mention how easily they get stuck in your head.

After watching the Disney+ release of Hamilton, I fully understand how it garnered as much attention and praise as it did upon its debut. With all of the necessary conversations happening in this country at the moment, Hamilton feels extremely timely and relevant. It demonstrates the power and importance of diversity and representation, reflects on the direction our country is heading and has headed since its founding, and brings some much-needed quality entertainment along the way. If you haven’t seen it yet, I highly suggest checking out Hamilton to answer the question, just as Thomas Jefferson asks, “What’d I Miss?” Thanks for reading.